Can-side-seams-soldering machine



Feb. 16 192s. 1,573,107

C. H. I... WlLKlNS CAN SIDE SEAMS SOLDERING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1924 2 1H t an u I up A'YTORNEZY Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

UNITED -STATES 1,573,107 PATENT. OFFICE,

CHARLES HORACE LEONARD WILKINS, OF GROWS NEST, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH "WALES, AUSTRALIAL CAN-SIDE-SEAMS-SOLDERING MACHINE.

Application filed February 2c, 1924. Serial No. 695,157;

To all'whom'it may'concem.

Be it known that I, iOHARLES HORACE LEONARD VVILKiNs, a subject. of the King of Great Britain, residingat Eden Crows Nest, near Sydney, in the State of New South Wales and Commonwealth of Australia, have invented anew and useful Improved CanSide-Seams-Soldering Machine,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention has been specially devised to provide a machine of cheap and simple construction for soldering the side or longitudinal seams of cans and particularly the side-seams of cans suchas kerosene, petrol and like tins quickly, efficiently and economically. L 1 e v V This improved can side-seam soldering machine has an open bed or contour framing along which cans to be soldered are adapted to be drawn by endless travelling chains. Along a side ofthe framing is: arranged one or more soldering rollers with devices for revolving same and withsolder troughs for the rollers to dip into and apparatus for heating the solder. Flux pads as revolvable discs preferably of resilient material are positioned preceding the said soldering rollers and have revolvable brushes adapted to contact with same and to dip into fluxing troughs nearby.

But in order that this invention may be more readily understood and carried into practical effect the present preferred construction of this improved can side-seam soldering machine will now be described with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this complete specification, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a sectional elevation on line 2-2F1g. 1. Fig. 3 1s a discharge end elevation partly in section and Fig. 4c a plan of sucha solder- 111g machine while Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged in section and Fig. 41 a plan of such a solder- :rollers and Its parts and of one of the fluxing elements. i l.

The bed or V-fraine has A-fraines 7, 8 and 0 supporting a base and sides the former having a channelled track bar 10 altogether of contour approaching that of the cans and constituting a contour framing on the sides of which are track bars 11 and steadying guide bars 12. Mounted in bearings 14 on the discharge or rear frame 7 is a shaft 13 having thereon sprocket wheels 15 engaging two endless chains 16 which have connecting patch ordrag bars 17 spaced apart suitably according'to the length of the cans. and said chains 16 and bars 17 travel the lengthof the machine over and under the track bar 10 and pass around idler sprocket wheels 18 on a shaft 19 in adjustable bearings 20 in brackets 21 fast to frame 9 and having Screws 22 to adjust the tension on the chains 16.

In the particular machine shown it is pro vided that the soldering of two seams of a can may takeplace at the same time and there is a duplication of identical parts which occupy respectively-each side of the machine and for the sake of simplicity therefore one side only will {be described it being understood that such described parts may be duplicated or even pluralized if necessary on or in the one contour framing. Positioned between frames and 8 are longitudinal bearers 23 having one or more slots or bays 24 in each of which is a bracket 25 removably pivotedthereinby easily removable pins 26 and 27'. -A barlO fastto the frames 7 and ,8has a set screw stop 41 to limit the inward swing of each bracket 25. Each bracket25 has a slida bly adjustable counterbalance weight 28 and a spindle 29 having a worm wheel 30 and soldering roller 31 the periphery 32 of which latter is slightly concaved or so shapedrelatively to the grooves or other contour of the seams to be soldered that it will held between one of its edges and the seam a quantity offiuid solder. Each worm wheel'3O meshes with a worm 33 on a shaft 34Qmounted in bearings 35 on the bearers 23 and said shaft 34 has bevel gearing 36 to an intermediate shaft 37 in bearings 38 on the frame 7 which said shaft 37 has gearing 39 to the before mentioned shaft 13.

On a side shaft 43 in bearings in or on bracket 44 forwardly of the described so1-" deringrol lers is a hanging bracket 42 carrying spindle45 with gearing 48 to said side shaft 43 which 111 turn has gearing 17 to the shaft 34 and said spindle has a resiliently faced pad or discor roller 18 of rubber or like material preferably pointed and also has bevel gearing 50 to shaft 51 in bearings 49 on which is a circular fiuxing brush 52 adapted to contact with the point or edge of the pad 18. A balance shaft 53 pivoted to the frame 8 has an adjustable counterbalance weight 541- and is adapted to abut the bracket 42 and resiliently hold it to its work and the poiul fifilpad 4:8 on or' against the seam ot a passing can. An adjustable stop 63 1s provided to limit the inward swing OftllB bracket 42. A trough 55 on {the "framing in juxtaposition to the fluxing brush 52. w p y In operation {power being appliedv to the driving shaft .13 the endless chains 16 are caused to travel and the solderingfrollers 31 and the fiuXing disc 48 and brush 52 are revolved. Solder is supplied to the troughs 55 and kept at the requisite temperature by ihe burners 61-. The rollers 31 revolving partly in the troughs -55 are 'sufiiciently heated thereby to pick =up solder and to transfer it to where required. The brush 52 dipping in the flux trough 57 suppliesthe pointed pad on disc l8 with a film of flux and which said pad transfers to the can lseamand owing to its resilient facing in or to retain and 'cn 'to'the surface of any slight irregularities. v

A: tin 58 whose seams are to be soldered is placed on the machine with one corner resting in channelled trackbar 10 and the seams naturally, disposed at points 59 and 60 and the tin sides contacting with the tracks 11 and guides 12 which hold it in position and steady as owing to themovement o'f a drag barl? abutting its endit passes along the channelled track bar 10 through the machinewith its seams presented first to the fluxi-ng pads 48 and then to the soldering rollers 31 whose shapes insure that the flux is deposited only whererequired and that sufficient solder is provided to seal the seam. Any soldering roller and its parts maybe removed as for cleaning without stoppage of the machine by removingthe centre. pin

and removing the bracket 25. I .It is to be, clearly understood that the carrying into practical effect of this invention is not confined to h Precise construclions of the various elements or "mechanisms described and illustrated so long as the nature and mechanical attribn'testhereof are retained and while the sce ter the invention is maintained formany variations of the construction of the respectlve functional [parts or integers will suggest-themselves to those skilledin theart to which this invention appertains. I g 'WVhat I claim asmy invention and desire to sccureby; Letters Patent is '1. A soldering 'machine, comprising, in

combination, a frame provided with a track --har=adapted to support a can longitudinally thereof, meansfor engaging the can at di ferentpoints on 1ts outer periphery -thereby the can continuously in one direction 'ethereof, means for engaging guide said canon said track bar, a traveling member adapted to move tween said engaging means, brackets p1v bracket and disposed in position to contact with the can along a line parallel with its longitudinal axis, means for operating said traveling membenand means for transmitting rotary motion from said operating means to said seldering rollers.

.2. A soldering machine, comprising, in combination, a frame provided with a track bar adapted to support a can longitudinally fhereof,;1neans for engaging the can at'differen-t points on its outer peripherythereby to retain and guide the can on said a traveling member adapted to move the can continuously in one direction between said engaging means, soldering rollers disposed along said frame in position to contact with thesu'rface of the can along a line parallel with its longitudinalaxis, the periphery of each of said rollers being so shaped-relativ'elyto the contour 'of the seams of thccan that a quantity of fluid solder will be held between one edge of the roller and the seam,

and means for operating said traveling track bar,

"allel with its longitudinal axis,the periphery of eatih of said rollers being concaved whereby a quantity of fluid solder will be held between one edge ofthe roller and the seam of the can, means for operating said traveling member, and means for transmitting rotary motion from said operating means'to said soldering elements.

4. A soldering machine, comprising, in combination, a frame provided with a'track bar adapted to support a can'longitudinally the can at difiere'nt points on itsoute'r periphery thereby to retain and guide the can on said track bar, a traveling member adapted to move thecan continuously in one direction between said engaging means, pivotally mounted bearings, rotatable soldering elements mounted in the -bearings 'CllSPOSQCl along said frame a'ndadapted to resiliently engage the surface 'ot'theean as it travels through the machine, a eoiinterbjalaneing we ght carried by the ill) bearing of each of said soldering elements for adjusting the pressure of said soldering elements on said can, and means for operating said traveling member.

5. A soldering machine, comprising, in combination, a fume having a track bar adapted to support a can longitudinally thereof and provided with side portions forming a contour similar to that of the can, said side portions having means for engaging the outer surface of the can thereby to guide it on said track bar, atraveling member having means for engaging the can and moving the same continuously in one direction between said side members and bar, pivotally mounted bearings, rotatable soldering elements mounted in said bearings and adapted to resiliently contact with the surface of the can tangentially thereof as it passes through the machine, a counterbalancing weight carried by the bearing of ach of said soldering elements for adjusting the pressure of said soldering elements on the can, and means for operating said traveling member.

(l, A soldering machine, comprising, in combination, a frame having a track bar adapted to support a can longitudinally thereof and provided with side portions forming afcontour similar to that of the can, said side portions having means for engaging the outer surface of the can thereby to guide it on said track bar, a traveling member having means for engaging the can and moving the same continuously in one direction between said side portions and bar, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on said side portions, each of said levers carrying a rotatable soldering element in position to contact with the surface of the can as it passes through the machine, means for limiting the pivotal movement of said levers thereby to adjust the pressure of said soldering elements on the can, means for operatingsaid traveling member, and means for imparting rotarymotion from said op erating means to said soldering elements.

7. A solderin machine, comprising, in

combination, a frame provided with a track bar adapted to support a can longitudinally thereof, means for engaging the can at dlfferent points on its outer periphery thereby to retain and guide the can on said track bar, a traveling member adapted to move the can continuously in one direction between said engaging means, a rotatable fiuxing disk carried by said frame and having a resilient edge in position to contact with the surface of the can along a line parallel with its longitudinal axis, a flux trough disposed below said disk, at fluxing brush adapted to take flux from said trough and apply it to said disk, soldering elements disposed along said frame in position to contact with the surface of the can along said line, means for operating said traveling member, and means for transmit ting motion from said operating means to said fluxing disk.

8. A soldering machine, comprising, in combination, a frame provided with a track bar adapted to support a can longitudinally thereof, means for engaging the can at dif ferent points on its outer periphery thereby to retain and guide the can on said track bar, a traveling member adapted to move the can continuously in one direction between said engaging means, a rotatable fluxing disk carried by said frame in position to contact with the surface of the can along a line parallel with its longitudinal axis, a flux trough disposed below said disk, a fluxing brush adapted to take flux from said trough and apply it to said disk, soldering elements disposed along said frame in position to contact with the surface of the can along said line, means for operating said traveling member, means for transmitting motion from said operating means to said fiuxing disk, said fluxing disk and soldering elements be ing pivoted to swing toward said frame, and a counterbalancing weight for adjusting the pressure of said elements on said can.

In testimony whereof'I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES HORACE LEONARD WlLKlNS 

